as we know, books are not everything in african traditional religions and afro-diasporic religions. these are oral traditions.however, reading and doing research does help, especially for those who have made scrambled eggs out of things.the purpose (imo) in reading books on atrs is not to use the info to "evoke" zarabanda or anything like that, but to at least get a good grasp of what is what and who is who.

do know that the following is a poor list compared to the number of african religions and afro-diasporic religions out there.aside the fact that africa is a big continent and home to hundreds of different african traditional religions, there are also other traditions in latin america such as shango baptist, abakua, obeah and so on.

here are the recommendations..(new recs will be added to the op so everything is more organized and concise.)

Africa

ifa/yoruba religion

fundamentals of the yoruba religion by chief famaanything by chief fama anything by wande abimbola anything by bascomReturn of the Gods – Ulli Beir Yoruba beliefs and sacrificial rites – J omosade AwolaluFaith Fancies & Fetish or Yoruba Paganism by Stephen S. FarrowReligious encounter and the making of the Yoruba - J D Y PeelOur mothers, Our Powers, Our texts By Teresa N. WashingtonThe Religion of th Yorubas By J Olomide Lucasgelede by drewalThe Sons of the Gods and the Daughters of Men An afro-Asiatic Interpretation of Genesis 1-11 By Modupe Oduyoye

benin vodun

voodoo by jean-dominique burton

bantu-congo religion

african cosmology of the bantu-congo by bunseki

Brazil

candomble

manipulating the sacred by omari tunkaradivine inspiration by galemboblack atlantic religion by matorysearching for africa in brazil by caponethe city of women by landesDrum and Candle – David Sinclairsacred leaves of candomble by voeks

this link:http://www.studioarcanis.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=5679as to books: there is one called 21 divisions by carlos antonio montenegro,prolly the only one in the market. it is an ok book (some info can be found online,however, the book also contains information that you dont find online, there are misconceptions in the book.one example is the idea that the indian division is the most neglected one, this is not true.)

haitian vodou

maya deren: divine horsemenmilo rigaud: secrets of voodooalfred metraux: voodoo in haititell my horse by hurstonthe serpent and the rainbow by davismama lola by brownthe drum and the hoe by courlander (includes sheet music!)Life in a Haitian Valley by Melville J. HerskovitsVoodoo and Politics in Haiti by Michel S. LaguerreHaitian Vodou Flags by Patrick Polk

lukumi

santeria enthroned by brownthe altar of my soul by moreno vegafinding soul on the path of orisa by correalthe osha by cortezSanteria From Africa to the new world: The dead sell memories - George Brandonanything by john mason, but avoid the cd in the book olokunWizards and Scientists: Explorations in Afro-Cuban Modernity & Tradition by Stephan Palmie

palo monte

society of the dead by ochoabook on palo - canizarespalo mayombe by frisvold

USA

new orlenas voodoo

vodou visions by glassman

hoodoo

hoodoo herb and root magic by cat yronwodevoodoo and hoodoo by haskinshoodoo, vodou and conjure by andersonBlack Magic by Yvonne Chireau Conjure In African American Society by Jeffery AndersonA Treasury of Afro-American Folklore by courlander

working the spirit by murphydancing wisdom by daniel (yes, it has a poor review in amazon, but, it is worth reading)conjure codex (a little bit of hoodoo, vodou, also has some articles on western magical traditions)Drumming for the Gods: The life and times of Felipe Garcia Villamil (Santero, Palero & Abakua) by Maria Teresa VelezSincretismo religioso - Igor Zabaleta

(warning # 1, courtesy of conjureman ali: it is heavily misinformed on some parts. For example it mentions how the history of Kimbanda is traced to "passive sodomites" in Africa and that is why Pomba Gira likes gay men. This really is a complete fabrication. The citation of sources is also very weak. If you try to trace the claims you'll find the sources used are actually quite weak. It seems that rather than doing research the author went in with an agenda, fingerpainted a bit, and then picked and chosed sources that would support his agenda.)

(warning #2, courtesy of sylvanus: They appropriate indigenous and otherwise traditions having vaguely to do with a possible (modern and under-construction) queer identity and use it as a badge of honor for the purposes of a modern culture war.)

Folklore

"The Hero with an African face" (Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa) by Clyde W Ford

(courtersy of lukueña: I particularly recommend "Imaginary Dialogues" 1-3. Very good stuff. Yoruba Heathenism (extracts from the book) is very good too.)

Authors That You Are Highly Recommended To Avoid:

mambo racine migene wipplermario dos ventos or mario menz/sean belachta/oya bale and who knows what other nicknames this con has michael bertiaux et alMin Ra ifagbemiBaba Ifa KaradeMontenegroOba ocunvodou shaman by ross heaven and prolly anything by him that relates to an ATR

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Arts and Aesthetics

Africa

african masks by hahner-herzogroyal arts of africa by blieranything by pemberton

Melange (arts of africa and of african-descent)

Face of the Gods - Robert Farris Thompsonflash of the spirit by thompson

DVDs-documentaries

Brazil

the city of women/cidade das mulheres by lazaro faria (based on landes' work) may i enter by kostana banovicile aiye by byrnedanca das cabacas by dinuccina rota dos orixas by barbieri